Government Executive - Authors - Ron Fournierhttp://www.govexec.com/voices/ron-fournier/2383/Ron Fournier is the Senior Political Columnist and Editorial Director of National Journal. Prior to joining NJ, he worked at the Associated Press for 20 years, most recently as Washington Bureau Chief. A Detroit native, Fournier began his career in Arkansas, first with the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record and then with the Arkansas Democrat and the AP, where he covered the state legislature and Gov. Bill Clinton.en-usFri, 19 Jun 2015 10:04:29 -0400Republicans Imperil Obama Legacy With National Service Cutshttp://www.govexec.com/management/2015/06/republicans-imperil-obama-legacy-national-service-cuts/115774/Will the president watch another priority fall victim to the political culture he vowed to change?Ron Fournier, National JournalFri, 19 Jun 2015 10:04:29 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/06/republicans-imperil-obama-legacy-national-service-cuts/115774/ManagementGeorge W. Bush Center via FlickrThis Is What Functioning Government Looks Likehttp://www.govexec.com/management/2015/01/what-functioning-government-looks-ebola/102336/After an embarrassing start, public-private sector leaders get their acts together on Ebola.Ron Fournier, National JournalTue, 06 Jan 2015 18:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/01/what-functioning-government-looks-ebola/102336/ManagementA licensed clinician sanitizes his hands after a simulated training session on Ebola given by CDC in October.Brynn Anderson/APThe 2016 Presidential Conversations Taking Place Right Nowhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2014/11/2016-presidential-conversations-taking-place-right-now/98207/What's on the minds of potential White House candidates tonight.Ron Fournier and Matthew Dowd, National JournalWed, 05 Nov 2014 11:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2014/11/2016-presidential-conversations-taking-place-right-now/98207/ManagementFrederic Legrand / Shutterstock.comChanging Who Runs the Senate Won't Fix Washingtonhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/11/changing-who-runs-senate-wont-fix-washington/98111/As with Obama in 2012, there will be no mandate for the GOP should Republicans win the upper chamber this year.Ron Fournier, National JournalTue, 04 Nov 2014 13:33:16 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/11/changing-who-runs-senate-wont-fix-washington/98111/OversightDave Newman / Shutterstock.comThe Scariest Thing About Ebola: Americans' Lack of Trust in Institutionshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/10/scariest-thing-about-ebola-americans-lack-trust-institutions/95933/Trust deficit runs deeper than one president—or even the presidency.Ron Fournier, National JournalTue, 07 Oct 2014 11:07:06 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/10/scariest-thing-about-ebola-americans-lack-trust-institutions/95933/OversightAmericans are losing faith in Congress, the president and both major political parties. Andrea Izzotti/Shutterstock.comThe Secret Service's Problems May Be Older and Harder to Fix Than You Thoughthttp://www.govexec.com/management/2014/10/secret-services-problems-may-be-older-and-harder-fix-you-thought/95678/Readers offer solutions that go beyond Pierson's resignation and undoing the DHS merger.Ron Fournier, National JournalThu, 02 Oct 2014 14:56:48 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2014/10/secret-services-problems-may-be-older-and-harder-fix-you-thought/95678/ManagementDavid Stuart Productions / Shutterstock.comNo Joke, Here's How to Fix the Secret Servicehttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/10/no-joke-heres-how-fix-secret-service/95552/Obama needs to fire Pierson, and Congress needs to return autonomy to the agency.Ron Fournier, National JournalWed, 01 Oct 2014 12:40:36 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/10/no-joke-heres-how-fix-secret-service/95552/OversightPresident Obama stands with U.S. Secret Service agents and looks at the Golden Gate Bridge, prior to boarding Marine One at the Crissy Field landing zone for departure from San Francisco on July 23, 2014.Official White House Photo by Pete SouzaHow Soon We Forget the Veteran Who Attacked the White Househttp://www.govexec.com/management/2014/09/how-soon-we-forget-veteran-who-attacked-white-house/94736/The story behind Friday's intrusion: a VA system failing millions like Omar J. Gonzalez.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 22 Sep 2014 15:56:22 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2014/09/how-soon-we-forget-veteran-who-attacked-white-house/94736/ManagementThe VA's outpatient clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas is seen in 2009.Flickr user qnrThe Next President Could Find Unity Fleetinghttp://www.govexec.com/management/2014/08/next-president-could-find-unity-fleeting/91148/We may never get hit again like we were on Sept. 11, 2001. But if we did, would the next president find unity fleeting?Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 11 Aug 2014 16:27:11 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2014/08/next-president-could-find-unity-fleeting/91148/ManagementDoug Mills/AP file photoIs the White House Lying or Just Bad at Crisis Communications?http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/07/white-house-lying-or-just-bad-crisis-communications/89156/Ordering a cheeseburger with fries while a downed airline smolders may not have been a great decision.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 21 Jul 2014 11:52:17 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/07/white-house-lying-or-just-bad-crisis-communications/89156/OversightDan Thornberg/Shutterstock.comDid the IRS Really Lose Lois Lerner's Emails? Let a Special Prosecutor Find Them.http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/06/did-irs-really-lose-lois-lerners-emails-let-special-prosecutor-find-them/86494/Obama needs to address this 'phony scandal' and the public trust with real transparency.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 16 Jun 2014 09:58:53 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/06/did-irs-really-lose-lois-lerners-emails-let-special-prosecutor-find-them/86494/OversightIRS official Lois LernerLauren Victoria Burke/APGeithner Book: When Obama Blew a Dog Whistle and a Budget Dealhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2014/05/geithner-book-when-obama-blew-dog-whistle-and-budget-deal/84268/Former Treasury secretary adds context to behind-the-scenes White House budget machinations.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 12 May 2014 15:50:08 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2014/05/geithner-book-when-obama-blew-dog-whistle-and-budget-deal/84268/ManagementHaraz N. Ghanbari/AP file photoObama, Congress Flunk National-Service Testhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/04/obama-congress-flunk-national-service-test/82924/President brags about 'boldest expansion' of a program that hasn't grown (thanks mostly to the GOP).Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 21 Apr 2014 17:07:56 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2014/04/obama-congress-flunk-national-service-test/82924/OversightPresident Barack Obama hands Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., the first pen as he signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, Tuesday, April 21, 2009.Charles Dharapak/AP File PhotoMillennials Don't See Serving in Government as the Way to Change the Worldhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/08/millennials-dont-see-serving-government-way-change-world/69353/In general, they have a great sense of purpose, but see little attraction in politics and government.Ron Fournier, The AtlanticMon, 26 Aug 2013 10:08:50 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/08/millennials-dont-see-serving-government-way-change-world/69353/ManagementAnalysis: How Obama and Congress Failed AmeriCorps ... and Americahttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/08/analysis-how-obama-and-congress-failed-americorps-and-america/67958/Program's woes follow Obama pattern: Raise hopes … hopes crushed … blame GOP.Ron Fournier, National JournalFri, 02 Aug 2013 08:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/08/analysis-how-obama-and-congress-failed-americorps-and-america/67958/ManagementWhite HouseWhat Detroit's Demise Says About Americahttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/07/what-detroits-demise-says-about-america/67478/Detroit native calls Motown's economic and social ills a warning for the nation.Ron Fournier, National JournalThu, 25 Jul 2013 17:36:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/07/what-detroits-demise-says-about-america/67478/Management - Promising PracticesAnalysis: Why the IRS Scandal Needs a Special Prosecutorhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/why-irs-scandal-needs-special-prosecutor/65465/Democratic and Republican cherry-picked findings aren't restoring public trust.Ron Fournier, National JournalTue, 25 Jun 2013 11:03:41 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/why-irs-scandal-needs-special-prosecutor/65465/OversightAnalysis: Obama Gives Nod to Transparency ... in Privatehttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/06/analysis-obama-gives-nod-transparency-private/65354/The president tries to assure Americans he's not trampling the Bill of Rights.Ron Fournier, National JournalFri, 21 Jun 2013 15:51:49 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/06/analysis-obama-gives-nod-transparency-private/65354/ManagementAnalysis: How Obama Scandals Threaten to Kill 'Good Government'http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/analysis-how-obama-scandals-threaten-kill-good-government/64487/Emerging narrative supports claims that Washington is intrusive, incompetent, untrustworthy and heartless.Ron Fournier, National JournalFri, 07 Jun 2013 13:04:44 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/analysis-how-obama-scandals-threaten-kill-good-government/64487/OversightBarack Obama, Rob Nabors and Denis McDonough confer outside the White House.White HouseAnalysis: The Bush-Obama White House Spies on Ushttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/06/analysis-bush-obama-white-house-spies-us/64382/'Bush-Obama era' will be long remembered for curbing the Constitution.Ron Fournier, National JournalThu, 06 Jun 2013 09:43:59 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/06/analysis-bush-obama-white-house-spies-us/64382/Managementkropic1/Shutterstock.comAnalysis: Issa Stirs Echoes of McCarthy in IRS Probehttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/analysis-issa-stirs-echoes-mccarthy-obamas-best-friend-irs-probe/64097/Chief GOP investigator doesn't know when to let damning facts speak for themselves.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 03 Jun 2013 10:45:43 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/06/analysis-issa-stirs-echoes-mccarthy-obamas-best-friend-irs-probe/64097/OversightAnalysis: You Know What Really Risks National Security? Leak Investigationshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/analysis-you-know-what-really-risks-national-security-leak-investigations/63241/What's the concern, plugging leaks or managing spin?Ron Fournier, National JournalFri, 17 May 2013 12:27:02 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/analysis-you-know-what-really-risks-national-security-leak-investigations/63241/OversightAnalysis: Benghazi, IRS Storms Threaten Obama's Credibilityhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/analysis-benghazi-irs-storms-threaten-obamas-credibility/63121/What does it mean when a president's people can't get their stories straight?Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 13 May 2013 09:10:32 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/analysis-benghazi-irs-storms-threaten-obamas-credibility/63121/ManagementCarolyn Kaster/APAnalysis: Obama's Amazing Speech (and Why You Probably Missed It)http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/analysis-obamas-amazing-speech-and-why-you-probably-missed-it/62857/Lost amid the laughter, Obama's closing remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner indict failed elites.Ron Fournier, National JournalMon, 29 Apr 2013 12:25:59 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/analysis-obamas-amazing-speech-and-why-you-probably-missed-it/62857/OversightCarolyn Kaster/APAnalysis: 'No Politics' Doesn't Mean 'No Accountability'http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/analysis-no-politics-doesnt-mean-no-accountability/62780/Congress, White House must investigate and learn from terrorist strike.Ron Fournier, National JournalThu, 25 Apr 2013 10:29:09 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/analysis-no-politics-doesnt-mean-no-accountability/62780/OversightKenshin Okubo/AP